1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Senate Bill 1 poses a grave threat to academic freedom and the integrity of public higher education in Ohio. This draconian legislation aims to curtail free speech and open inquiry on campuses by allowing students to record faculty lectures without consent and file complaints about allegedly "divisive" content. It empowers a politically-appointed bureaucracy to defund universities based on ideological grounds. As an institution meant to foster critical thinking and robust discourse, public universities must remain free from such overreaching government intrusion and censorship. Protecting academic freedom is essential for advancing knowledge and upholding democratic values. I urge you to veto Senate Bill 1 and safeguard the intellectual vibrancy of Ohio's universities for the benefit of current and future students.